The William S. Hart Union High School District has elected a new permanent Chief Operating Officer. In a board meeting Wednesday night, interim COO Benjamin Rodriguez was appointed to the job in a unanimous vote of the school district board members.

Rodriguez was elevated to interim COO in November after Tom Cole left the job to take a position as Santa Clarita’s community development director.

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Last week, the district’s Governing Board confirmed several new construction projects, including a new high school in Castaic, with construction set to begin in May. The Board also confirmed the planned phase two modernization projects at Hart High School, Sierra Vista Junior High and Placerita Junior High School, which will start later this year. Additional construction projects at Saugus and Canyon High Schools are also in development.

Funding for the projects comes from the $300 million Measure SA Bonds voters approved in 2008, and are projected to cost about $167 million. With his background in construction management, Rodriguez will be instrumental in planning and overseeing these projects.

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